Infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland - thread 3

[itsmschanandlerbong]

A thread for those of us undergoing infertility investigations or treatment in Scotland.

Thread 1 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/3742246-infertility-investigations-ivf-in-scotland

Thread 2 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4138992-Infertility-investigations-IVF-in-Scotland-thread-2

How long after stopping nothisterone did you guys get a bleed? I’m supposed to have my baseline scan at 8am tomorrow, last nothisterone on Thursday and nothing.

Not really sure what to do… I absolutely hate taking pregnancy tests but I guess that’ll be what they ask in the morning.

@2mumlife thanks!! It’s not period yet, spotting, but it’s getting there.
@florafoxtrot took me 4 days, started spotting and the day after, period.

Thanks @GemmTryTTC. Tempted fate of course and spotting started so all go for tomorrow

@florafoxtrot I was the very end of the 4th day too. Exciting to get started.

So my private thyroid results finally came back and TSH is below 1 for the first time ever - looks like I'm on from my next day 1. Other results confirm I have hashimotos and my T3 and T4 are still a little low. I've booked to see a private endocrinologist in a couple of weeks. I really don't want to waste a cycle if my thyroid isn't right.

Congratulations on the thyroid results @Kamiros - Below 1 is fantastic!

A private endocrinologist sounds like a good idea; I've found quite a few clinicians don't really understand how complicated the thyroid can be, so they go by the 'standard' guidelines which aren't strict enough for people with fertility issues. My GP was insisting that everything was fine if results were in the standard reference ranges, and I had to give them links to papers and explain why that wasn't the case. Even some fertility specialists don't fully understand the role of the thyroid or what can be done to manage thyroid dysfunction.

That’s great news on the thyroid level @Kamiros. It’s not something I know a huge amount about either but I’ve definitely heard people say you’ll get a lot more guidance from an endocrinologist than you’d ever get from a GP.

I’m still a bit anxious about starting in honesty, I’m hoping that lessens once we get going.

@florafoxtrot I found I was much better after the first day. Finally felt like I was doing something.

@Kamiros I know nothing about these things but sounds like numbers are good!

Blood test for me this morning. Clear blue digital is saying "not pregnant" so I think I'm having a chemical pregnancy but will see what clinic says I guess....

@2mumlife I'm so sorry to hear this. Are you calling them or going in for bloods?

I’m really sorry @2mumlife. That must be so unbelievably hard. It’s unfair. Thinking of you xx

@Kamiros I'm a blood test today. Feel a bit in limbo whether to still have some hope or not

Sending lots of love @2mumlife.

@2mumlife I know, it's so difficult. I think our instinct is always to hold onto hope. Thinking of you through today.

@Kamiros Had a little bit of a cry with nurse (she was really lovely about it). She said if they pick up low HCG levels they will bring me back every other day for repeats to see what way things are going. Won't hear anything from them until the afternoon and couldn't say what times just depends how busy they are

@2mumlife Perfectly understandable. It'll be hard but try to look after yourself today. Sending hugs.

So we got 3 embrios frozen, not sure of the full grading but acording to the GCRM's grading they are grade C. A bit bummed about the grading/number, and also happy about having 3 shots at getting pregnant.... so contradicting.
I am sending lots of love to anybody who needs it today, this is a hard, heartbreaking at times, process.

@GemmTryTTC Congrats on 3 frosties! This is a good result. I wouldn't get hung up on grading, there are a lot of positives stories from people with "lower" grades and lots of negatives from higher grades!

@Kamiros Thank you. I went to see a friend who doesn't know we're trying so that was a good distraction. Stopped at one of the wee delis in the west end and got some lovely little sweet nibbles too and first time I've had the chance to walk through Kelvin grove since lockdown started so it's been nice to be back in my old neighborhood (we moved out the city just before lockdown started)

@GemmTryTTC That's a good number. I really wouldn't worry about the grading, seen loads of success with Cs. It can also change really fast. Mine was graded B when I arrived at the clinic, by the time they transferred it was an A. Doctor said they can go back and forward multiple times so its not that important. If they're good enough to freeze then that's good enough.

@2mumlife thanks! I am trying to be grateful for what we got, and to be fair I’m glad we have a month or 2 to just forget about fertility treatments until FET and just enjoy, even this weekend trying to be distracted has been good!

I’m sending you lots of hugs, distraction helps me a lot, if you need to talk we’re here

Just missed your message @Kamiros thanks! I’m trying to not worry about it, and at least we have a couple of months of calmness, which I need! It’s been a roller coaster!

@GemmTryTTC I suppose it's good you're spotting just one in a way, hopefully this means you can get started on your frozen cycle sooner? I think the leutal (sp?) would stop you from bleeding during a usual cycle. Congrats on having 3 frosties, that's good! Try not to pay too much attention to the headings, a lot of this is just pot luck. Hopefully with your body having a break before the frozen, it'll have more time to recover in between.

@florafoxtrot that's good, best of luck for today! I found time went in quickly during the stims phase, as others have said it's good to feel like you're doing something. Plus you're back and forward from the hospital so regularly so that keeps you busy too. Not too long waiting between stages if that makes sense.

@Kamiros I'm not too clued up on thyroid levels but that sounds like good news!

@2mumlife I'm so sorry, this is so heartbreaking. Holding out hope for your blood results 🤞🤞

I went in this morning for a blood test to check my HCG levels. I am bleeding heavily and I have the worst cramps, so I know this has been a chemical pregnancy, I suppose they need to check though. I'll get a call back this afternoon with the results and i might need to go back on Wednesday for another blood test to check my levels again to see if they have changed. I have been crying on and off all weekend, so I'm going to take this week off work I think, just to get my head together again. This is such a shitty process when it doesn't go your way.

@GemmTryTTC my comment was a mess and made zero sense 🤦‍♀️ what I meant was that the spotting is good in a way because it maybe means you can start your frozen cycle sooner than waiting ages for a bleed. Also meant that the leutal support would stop you from bleeding in a usual cycle. And I meant try not to pay much attention to the gradings. Sorry for that mess!

@itsmschanandlerbong don’t worry I understood it 😊. I think taking a week off work will be good for you, take some time to heal. The spotting continues, not full bleed, a mini-cramp here and there but nothing like a full period (I don’t have heavy periods usually anyway). I’m thinking frozen transfer will be around august-September, depending on my next cycle and how long paperwork, etc, takes.
@florafoxtrot yes as above, time during stims just flies by, you won’t realise it and it will be egg collection time!

Not having a great day today - lower abdominal cramps in that horrible pre-period way. I'm due for a repeat scan at EPAS tomorrow, so not much I can do but wait. Last week's scan was hopeful but not definite, so could go either way, and my ovaries looked a total mess - more cyst than ovary, with multiple huge cysts and the wonderfully precise description of "it looks like your ovaries are so inflamed they've fused together" (what???). Don't know if the pain is from the cysts or a warning of something worse. Last week I felt a bit hopeful but now I just feel like I'm waiting for this all to go wrong.

@itsmschanandlerbong I'm so sorry to hear you've been bleeding, is there a chance everything is still ok? I know bleeding can be experienced early on but not how much is too much. Its good clinic has seen your for bloods. How many days psot transfer are you now?

@Scirocco Fingers crossed for you the cramps are your ovaries dealing with these cysts. Fingers crossed for good news tomorrow for you.

No news yet, expecting them to phone in the next few hours. In the meantime I'm off to do my afternoon Utrogestan and really hoping it isn't for the last time